Requirements

Let me begin by saying that although a French wedding sounds romantic and beautiful, it is almost impossible to arrange from the US and even harder if one of you is American. All I can say is...be afraid! Be VERY afraid! Below is a high level list of what you will need. The page is quite long, but then so is the process.

Document	Description	Cost
Le Bans	After you get the Mayor's permission and schedule the date, your main goal is to get all of your documents in order and delivered to the Mayor more than 30 days before the wedding date. Once approved, he will post the "bans" in a public place outside his office. The "bans" is an announcement stating your intent to marry. Its purpose is to inform the masses and give others a chance to contest the union. If there is a single error in your documents, the announcement will be delayed - and so will your wedding. This is scary business if you are expecting guests, so give yourself plenty of time.	A lot of heartache
Livre de Marie	This translates as The Book of Marriage. You must obtain one from the Mayor's office in the city you will be married in. It contains the forms you will need. Have them mail it to the USA if necessary.	Postage and phone bills!
Birth Certificates	Don't forget this detail; the copies absolutely must be less than 6 months old and recently certified. If one is in English, it must be translated and notarized. You must also obtain a translation certificate from the translator stating that the document is true and correct. After that, all documents must be "legalized" (a stamp obtained at the Consulate). All processes must be performed by people approved by the French Consulate (phone them for a list in your area).	$25 for my copy Free for his; $150 translation $75 Notarization $75 Legalization for 3 docs
Certificat de Prenuptial	These forms should be found in your Livre de Marie. They must be completed by an approved French doctor (again, phone the consulate for a list of doctors near you) after he examines both of you and performs a blood test. If you are American, a rubella test will also be required. After the doctor stamps and signs the forms (one for each of you) you must take them to the consulate and have each one legalized.	$400 for blood work and rubella test $50 Legalization of 2 docs
Certificat de Coutume	This is best obtained by a French lawyer who is familiar with American law. Basically, it is a French document stating that although the person about to be married is American, they are aware of the French laws concerning marriage and their responsibility to abide by them. It further states that the American is free to marry in France and is not restricted by and existing laws in America. This, too, must be notarized by an approved French notary, and then legalized by the Consulate.	$50 for the document $75 Notarization $25 Legalization for 1 doc
Attestation sur L'Honneur a.k.a. Certificate de Celibat	These forms should also be in your Livre de Marie. They ask you to state your current marital status and swear on your honor that you are legally free to marry.	Free!
Liste de Temoins	Also found in the Livre de Marie, these forms document who your two witnesses will be. You need one witness to sign for each of you.	Free!
Renseignements Relatifs a L'Epoux	Once again, look for these in your Livre de Marie. They are absolutely necessary for the posting of the bans (as is everything else) and must be complete. They ask for detailed information about your parents (who they are, where they live and what they do). If you list anything here that differs from your birth certificate in any way (e.g. your mother remarried) be prepared to explain it. Also - a bit of advice; if you don't happen to know the where abouts or occupation of an estranged parent, then make something up. Trust me on this one!	Free!

Perrhaps the most difficult chore is arranging for someone to actually marry you. In France, all couples must marry through a legal, government ceremony at the City Hall - even if they plan to hold a church wedding after. The hard part is that the Mayor expects you to live in his jurisdiction, and the Church expects you to be a long-standing member of their congregation. If you don't live there and don't plan to, they are not thrilled by the idea of you using their services and consenting to your "whim". Ask family members for favors, be lenient in your expectations and be prepared to be disappointed! After-all, if you want things done exactly "your" way, then do them in the States.

Finally, perhaps the best advise I can offer is do not wait to start making your arrangements. Call the colsulate TODAY and have a list of questions prepared. Insist on certain answers and make sure your get them from the source. Well meaning friends or friends-of-friends might tell you what is required but may be sadly mistaken - even me! Get your hands on the necessary forms as soon as possible. Documents we thought would take days to get always took weeks and sometimes months. More than once, we were sure to miss the bans. Oh - make sure your passport is current. too!

I am sorry I have no information about marrying an alien in America, but I do know that the process is entirely different. Call the Consulate - they know what they are doing - unlike Moi!